Modeler Rick Wright never quits pushing himself to greater heights in the hobby. In the November 2000 issue we showcased his beautiful O gauge hi-rail layout. Ten years later we are privileged to show you the updated version. […]
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A case for the commonplace in railroad photography
Just another day: the first-trick tender of Norfolk Southern’s ex-Nickel Plate drawbridge over the Cuyahoga Valley in Cleveland heads to work on March 22, 2005. Scott Lothes Union Pacific’s business train looks nice heading south near Albany, Ore., on an October morning in 2009, but says little about the nature of the railroad. Scott Lothes […]
Construct a simple and reliable helix
Making sure the first level of a helix is as stable, secure, and smooth as possible makes the remaining levels go together easier. A house, a car, and a layout all have something in common: they turn out better when they’re built on a solid framework. This is especially true of a helix. A helix […]
“The Great Train Story” exhibit
What can you build with $3.5 million in donations, two professional model-building companies, and thousands of hours put in by more than 40 artists and modelers, and a score of volunteers? How about The Great Train Story, a 3,500-square-foot HO scale model railroad that includes key features of Chicago, Seattle, and an impressive representation of […]
Techniques for freight car weathering
Prototype. The Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic 50-foot double-door boxcar in the 1970 photo to the right inspired Bob’s modification and weathering of an HO model. William Raia photo Finished model. By using weathering techniques and making some minor modifications, author Bob Rivard transforms an HO scale InterMountain model into the well-worn freight car shown. […]
Atlas HO scale Alco C-424 diesel locomotive
Atlas HO scale Alco C-424 diesel locomotive The Alco C-424 has been a part of the Atlas line since 1986, when the firm imported a model produced by Kato. Today, the C-424 is now part of the Atlas Classics line. The ready-to-run model uses an Atlas drive and features an eight-pin plug for a Digital […]
Digitrax SoundFX decoders
Digitrax SoundFX decoders A pair of HO and N scale Digital Command Control sound decoders from Digitrax offer steam and diesel sound effects in entry-level packages. The HO scale SDH164D and N scale SDN144PS come loaded with generic sound sets and wired with a speaker and capacitor. The SDN series are intended as basic sound […]
ExactRail N scale Trinity hi-cube 50-foot boxcar
ExactRail N scale Trinity hi-cube 50-foot boxcar Price: $22.95 ManufacturerExactRail LLC1053 South 1675 WestOrem, Utah, 84058www.exactrail.com Era: 1995 to present Comments: A contemporary 52-foot Trinity hi-cube plug-door boxcar has been released in N scale by ExactRail. It represents a high capacity prototype built by TrinityRail Corp. to haul heavy rolls of printing paper. The model […]
Model railroading 101
Learn the basics of the hobby of model railroading Illustration by Theo Cobb If you’re new to model railroading, a hobby shop is probably where you’d get your first crash course in hobby terminology. However, spending an afternoon staring at trains in display cases trying to get answers to basic questions can be frustrating. Having […]
Model railroading scales
Model railroading scales are described by letters such as N, HO, S, and O. This alphabet soup may seem confusing at first, but the letters are simply shorthand to describe the ratio of the model’s size to its prototype, which is what model railroaders call the real thing a model is based on. The chart […]
Rolling through the Rocks
Led by a new MP36PH-3C, a MARC commuter trains curves past the historic depot at Point of Rocks, Md., on its afternoon run from Washington, D.C., to Brunswick, Md., June 10, 2010. Photo by Alex Mayes […]
The high iron
Three Union Pacific diesels muscle a southbound intermodal train under classic Southern Pacific searchlight signals near Mojave, Calif., on Sept. 3, 2010. In the background are the Tehachapi Mountains, site of one of the world’s most impressive railroad crossings of a mountain range. Photo by William Steck […]
